Wick-trimmer



(N0 Model.)

S. M. HOUGK.

WIGK TRIMMER.

,031. I Patented Deb. 10, 1889.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL IIOUGK, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.

WlCK-TRIMMER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 417,031, dated December10, 1889. Application filed dune 6, 1889. Serial No. 313,339- (Nomodel.)

To (0M whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SAMUEL M. HOUCK, a citizen of the United States,residing at Springfield, in the county of Clark and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in VVick-Trimmers, of whichthe following is a specification, reference being had therein to theaccompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements inlamp-wick trimmers; and the invention consists, essentially, of two barspivoted together and forming each at one side of the pivot suitablehandles and at the other side of the pivot suitable jaws, whichrespectively carry a straight-edged and a serrated-edged blade, whichact in conjunction with each other; and the invention further consistsin providing an adjustable pivot for the device, so that the jawcarrying one blade may be adjusted to move such blade nearer to theother blade, so that they will properly lap each other when they are incutting position; and the invention further consists in placing thehandles well to one side of the blades, so as to place the blades in ahorizontal position across the lamp-wick without raising the hand sohigh; and the invention further consists of certain details ofconstruction hereinafter fully specified.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a partof this specification,and onwhich like reference-letters indicate corresponding parts, Figure 1represents my improved lan1p-wick trimmer in side elevation; Fig. 2, anedge view thereof; Fig. 8, a sectional view on a larger scale; Fig. at,a detail perspective view of the serrated blade, and Fig. 5 a detailperspective view of the pivot-block.

The letters A and B respectively designate two bars of metal formed intohandles 0, nor mally distended or held apart by the interposition ofstrips D, of resilient metal, secured to the handles and opposing eachother near the center, as shown. These bars are each mortised aboutone-half their thiekiiess and lapped across each other, as usual in0011- structing pinehers and pliers, and the bar A is provided with aslot E, to which is slidingly fitted the shank of the pivot-block F. Apivot-screw G passes through av hole in the bar B and screws into thepivot-block F, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3. The pivotblock isadjusted back and forth in the slot E by means of an adj Listing-screwI-I, mounted in the head of said block, and rotatably but non-slidinglyconnected with the bar A by fitting an opening therein and receiving apin I in an annular groove J formed in the each of two members K K,extending from a and forming a part of the bar A, and of members L L,extending from and forminga part of the bar To the members K is secured,by screws M or otherwise, a blade 0, having a straight cutting-edge andshouldered so as to more snugly fit against the members K. To themembers L is secured a serrated blade P. The inner side of the blade 0is formed on a straightline, and .the outside of the blade P is formedin the are of a circle from the pivot center. The result is that whenthe handles C O are brought together the blades pass each other in closecontact. The blade 0 is beveled from the outside and the blade P fromthe inside, as seen in Figs. 1 and 4, the serrations being beveled onthe inner side, as seen in the latter figure. The result is that the twosharp edges overlap each other in intimate contact when the jaws arebrought together, while the serrated form of the out ting-edge of theblade P gives it a draw out, which is of marked advantage inmanipulating the device. The blade 0 may be adjusted nearer to the bladeP in a radial direction by removing it and drawing a file across theends of the members K; but the preferred means of adjusting the bladeswith respect to each other is that already described, through themanipulation of the screw H. Stops Q are provided to prevent the handfrom slipping too much toward the pivotal point when manipulating thedevice.

In order to avoid the necessity of having position, while the handlesare still inclined to accommodate the then position of the hand. Icontemplate sometimes constructing the device with a fixed pivot betweenthe bars,

' instead of the adjustable screw herein described.

Having thus fully described my invntion,

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. As an improved article of manufacture, a wick-trimmer consisting ofbars forming handles and jaws and pivoted together at a point betweensuch portions, a straight-edged blade carried by one jaw with itscutting-edge substantially in line with the pivot of the bars, and aserrated-edged blade carried by the other jaw and arranged with itscutting end along which the serrations are formed in substantialalignment with said pivot.

2. As an improved article of manufacture, a wick-trimmer consisting ofbars forming handles and jaws and pivoted together at a point betweensuch portions, one bar being slidingly connected to the pivot,'astraightedged blade having its inner side straight and beveled from theouter side, carried by one jaw, and a serrated-edged blade curved on theouter side and beveled from the inner side and carried by the other jaw.

3. As an improvedarticle of manufacture, a wick-trimmer consisting ofbars forming handles and jaws, a block carried by one bar and adjustablewith respect to the other bar,

and an adj usting-screwfor adjusting the block back and forth, and apivot passing through the other bar and connecting with said block, anda blade carried by each jaw and co-opcrating with each other to effect acutting action when the handles are forced toward each other.

4. As an improved article of manufacture, a wick-trimmer consisting ofbars forming handles and jaws, a pivot-screw fitted to one bar, a slotin the other bar, a block slidingly fitted to said slot, and anadjusting-screw engaging with the block and rotatively connected withthe slotted bar, and a blade carried by each jaw.

5. A blade for a wick-trimmer, consisting of a plate provided withserrations at one edge, the serrations being beveled on their inner sideand curved on the outer face or surface which works against the opposingblade, substantially as shown and described.

6. As an improved article of manufacture. a wick-trimmer consisting oftwo bars pivoted together and forming handles at one side and jaws atthe other side, the jaws being arranged so that those of one bar are inthe same plane as those of the other bar, a blade secured to one of saidjaws and beveled at its cutting-edge on the outer side, and anotherblade secured to the other jaw and beveled at its cutting-edge on theinner side, the said plates having their cutting-edges dis posedcrosswise to the handles.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL M. HOUOK.

WVitnesses:

EDWIN O. HoUcK, W. A. ARBOGAST.

